Severe winds reaching velocities of as high as 155km/h (96mph) have resulted in nearly 90,000 households lacking electricity and forced authorities to call off over 100 flights, based on regional news sources.
The winds are affecting the entire southern region and southern parts of the northern region, per the country's meteorological service.
The nation's agencies have issued uncommon high-level wind alerts - the top caution category - in central regions including these major districts.
People have been urged to stay indoors, stay off roads, and make arrangements for further power and communication outages.
Extensive Destruction and Emergency Response
The power cut appears to be affecting households mainly in the southern region, though officials report that power was being gradually reinstated.
Local media have reported that in certain areas roofs have been ripped off houses, whereas trees and electricity poles have been knocked down by the winds.
Across Wellington, a individual was lost his life after being struck by a tree branch at a well-known hiking path on Tuesday.
Also in the capital, a female was blown onto oncoming traffic on a road by a strong gust of wind, in a incident that was captured in a widely shared car camera footage.
Air travel in and out of the city have been halted as a result of the gusts, while some roads and libraries are not operating.
Meanwhile Canterbury officials have announced a emergency situation, to support recovery activities.
Labor Protests Amid Extreme Conditions
These intense gusts on today come as numerous of school staff, physicians and civil servants take part in what has been called a "significant labor action", requesting improved salaries and workplace environments.
However the intense climate has forced them to change certain arrangements, with various open-air gatherings moved indoors or cancelled.
Comparable winds are also sweeping the nearby nation, bringing a period of extreme heat to the remote areas.
Agencies have declared fire bans for apprehension regarding bushfires.
